The former boyfriend of a teenager found dead in a public toilet block has lost his temper, thumping a table and yelling, as he denied having anything to do with her death.
The Queanbeyan Coroner's Court is examining the death of Charli Powell, 17, who was found dead in a toilet block at one of the town's ovals in 2019.
Today, her former boyfriend, Rohan Rosewarne, told the court how he had found Ms Powell after a phone call, during which he said Ms Powell told him she was going to take her own life.
Mr Rosewarne gave evidence via video link from Canberra's jail, where he is serving a sentence for unrelated offences.
He admitted sending abusive and threatening messages to Ms Powell, and recording her name as "slut" in his phone.
He said he had done that when he was angry with her and had forgotten to change it back.
But he told the court the abuse was only verbal and not physical.
He admitted it was not a good relationship, when the coroner asked how he reflected on it.
"It's f***ing putrid.
"I was 17, I didn't know how to deal with shit like that."
Mr Rosewarne told the court the pair both had demons, but that he wanted to fix himself up and he wanted her to fix herself up.
Families clash in court as 'feud' continues
Mr Rosewarne became angry several times during questioning.
His strongest reaction was to questions from the family's lawyer, Michael Bartlett, who asked if he knew Ms Powell's family thought he had had a role in her death.
"There's been a feud between that family and my family for a long time," Mr Rosewarne said.
Mr Bartlett: "Did you kill Charli Powell?"
Mr Rosewarne: "No I did not."
Mr Bartlett: "Did you fake a suicide…?"
Mr Rosewarne: "No."
He also denied hitting Ms Powell between the eyes, where a bruise was later found.
Mr Rosewarne became particularly angry when a possible anomaly in his evidence was pointed out.
'You are a woman basher, a liar and a cheater'
Mr Rosewarne admitted he was upset that Ms Powell had said she wanted nothing more to do with him.
The court heard on the weekend she died, Ms Powell had sent an emphatic text to him which stated:
Mr Rosewarne's family stood in unison, yelling abuse at Ms Powell's family as they left the court.
Tomorrow the court is due to hear a family statement about Ms Powell's life.
Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame acknowledged that the family believed Ms Powell's death was a murder.
She urged them to use tomorrow's opportunity to highlight the good things in her life.
